IHEC opens 34 centers in Basra in one month

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Tammuz Organization for Social Development (TOSD) on Tuesday said that the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) in Iraq opened 34 centers in Basra throughout a period of one month to collect signatures that approve the establishment of Basra federal region. “The 34 centers were opened between Dec. 14, 2008 and Jan. 19, 2009,” the TOSD said in a release that was received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “In addition to the centers, the IHEC also prepared the working staff and other registration requirements,” it added. “The registration process moved smoothly and in a transparent way,” it noted. “The project of changing Basra province into a region did not succeed due to the low number of registered people that did not reach 10 percent,” it asserted. The constitution of Iraq stipulates that at least 10 percent of the province’s population should approve the turning of the province into a region. The TOSD was founded in May, 1997, in Arbil. It defines itself as a humanitarian, social, development, non–governmental and non-political foundation that works for public people without any consideration of ethnicity, religion or ideology. MH (S) / SS 1